Chapter 27 - Quest Complete
Given her dignified demeanor, I had a feeling, but it turns out Kagura-san really was one of the original players from the game's launch. Afterward, she took on all the baggage with a dashing, "Leave the fire-extinguishing to me," and left the tavern with a wave, without looking back.
As for me, left behind, all I could do was fall for her with a thought like, Wow, she's so cool. In any case, it seemed the matter was settled for now.
She mentioned something about being my backer, but it seemed she intended to keep the other veteran players who would likely try to mess with me out of curiosity in check.
Since I wanted to continue my progress at my own pace for a while longer, this was a huge help. I decided to leave it to my dependable big sis.
"And with that, I've finally left the naked tribe."
Even though player names are hidden by default, wandering around in just underwear would get me found out in no time—so we both agreed I should lie low until the heat died down.
And so, as a 'token of our new friendship,' she gave me a costume item! An item I was told I'd be better off not knowing the price of!!
"I'm already in her debt big time…"
Black leather pants and a flax-colored jacket. Described that way, it sounds plain, but this is fantasy, after all. The various belts and other overly elaborate decorations tickled my inner edgelord to the max.
It's just a fashion item with no stats, but its simple yet refined design and comfort asserted its high quality, whether I liked it or not.
It was apparently a high-end model that automatically optimized itself to the wearer's physique. It was originally a hand-me-down from Kagura-san that she no longer used, but it fit my male avatar without any issue.
"It must be expensive… In the online games I used to play, cosmetic avatars were ridiculously pricey…"
My knees start to tremble just thinking about it seriously. I'll just have to show my gratitude by making good use of it.
—Right, I can't just sit here sipping my cup forever.
I downed the rest of my drink… what was this stuff called again? Shanato Sparkling something-or-other… it was like a grape soda that was strangely bland yet had a lot of off-flavors.
The first beverage I'd ever had in a virtual world was, well, neither good nor bad.
By the way, it seems that no matter how much you eat or drink, your sense of hunger or fullness is directly reflected from your real body. It's obvious in many ways, but the feeling of my throat remaining dry even after downing a soft drink was incredibly weird.
"Alright, I'll quickly turn in my report and then log off."
I stood up from my seat, giving a cool, one-handed wave to the NPC bartender with his stylishly trimmed beard, and left the tavern after Kagura-san.
As I pushed down the pang of sadness from having my ultra-cool gesture completely ignored, my eyes caught the faint glow of a `!` mark in the corner of my vision, signifying a quest completion.
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"…Indeed."
The buff old man solemnly nodded after taking the ten 'Great Winged Bird's Tail Feathers' I pulled from my inventory and inspecting their condition and number.
I defeated four Glowbirds and got exactly ten feathers, so the drop rate per creature must have been random.
Man, I'm glad I had just enough. Having to go for another hike along that cliff path because I was one short would have been a real pain.
As I grimaced at the memory of that combo of restricted footing and nuisance mobs—the very embodiment of stress—the buff old guy took out the remains of the pickaxe I'd left with him.
The wooden handle, which had been snapped at the base, was gone. The dismantled metal parts were placed on the counter with a thud. The bent tip was faintly stained with 'white'—proof that some reckless fool had bared his fangs at a vastly superior foe.
"Your name, kid."
As always, his way of starting a conversation or changing topics was abrupt and clumsy… Actually, come to think of it, we hadn't even introduced ourselves. We were complete strangers making a quest contract.
"It's Haru."
"What a coincidence. I'm Halzen."
…Right, that's the buff old guy's name. What a strange coincidence to have a near-match.
"Call me what you like, Haru."
Isn't 'buff old guy' fine? No? The mood feels too serious for that, so probably not.
"Then how about 'Master'…"
No, I'm not kidding. Calling him 'Mr.' Halzen doesn't feel right, and I'm not used to calling someone clearly older by their name without an honorific… I'll take that nod as permission. Yep, it's decided.
"I've taken the materials. I will now forge the iron."
"Ah, yes! Thank you very much!"
I'm getting used to this creature who knows nothing of conversational context. If he'd just learn some conversational skills like using conjunctions or transitioning between topics… ah, whatever.
Being exclusively direct isn't so bad. Hooray for simplicity.
"I'll need until this time tomorrow. If you have any requests for the sword, I'll hear them."
"Requests… for starters, can you make it a straight sword?"
"That was my intention."
After all, the one I gave him and demonstrated with was a straight sword.
The category is fine, but I can't really think of any specific requests. I suppose I'd just like a sword that's easy to handle for everyday use.
"I plan on using it as my main weapon, so if you could make it easy to wield, that'd be great."
"You want it lighter?"
"Hmm… not too light… ah, the straight sword you had on display felt pretty good."
"Understood."
Just then, the quest icon began to flash. The new icon that appeared was an hourglass, indicating a waiting period—it seemed we had successfully moved to the next stage.
"Come again."
"Will do. Looking forward to it."
Well, a lot has happened… no, seriously, way too much has happened, but for now, this marks a stopping point.
My virtual body may be tireless, but the real brain controlling it certainly accumulates fatigue.
Obeying the faint sense of drowsiness clinging to me and the thirst demanding real-world hydration, my second day of adventure came to an end.
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"So how is it, that long-awaited virtual world?"
—At dinner. As the three of us—my parents and I—sat around the table for the first time in a day, my father asked me as he sipped his tea.
"It's amazing. Life-changingly fun."
In fact, it's like I've literally grown a second life.
"Just be careful not to neglect your other responsibilities."
"Yessir."
I received a word of caution from my mother, but it was hardly a scolding. This was a form of entertainment that basically left you bedridden in the real world, so it was obvious that thorough self-management was necessary in every sense.
"Since we have the chance, tell us about it sometimes. It's not often I get to hear my son's tales of adventure."
He laughed, saying he could brag about it to his colleagues at work.
"Let's see. Well, yesterday and today, I've taken down a mushroom monster, a wild boar the size of a truck, a giant scorpion, and a flock of birds as big as wyverns."
"…You're surprisingly aggressive, you know that?"
"Also did some no-rope bungee jumping from a cliff hundreds of meters high."
As I'd half-expected, my parents were completely taken aback by my tales of adventure, giving me looks that clearly said, "What is this kid doing?"
…Yeah, okay, I get the picture. I should probably tone it down from now on.
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"—Haaaah… I'm exhausted…"
My consciousness shifted from the virtual world back to my real body, a sensation I was now completely used to. In the beginning, the sudden change in physical sensation left me feeling lethargic and fatigued, but what I felt now stemmed from a completely different source.
"I get that it's no fun when someone steals the spotlight, but…"
In the end, it took a great deal of time and effort to put out the fire, and on top of that, I got a scolding from my clan master for getting involved in trouble and using the workshop's name without permission.
My body felt heavy from the mental exhaustion. But I didn't have a single regret. My mind was filled with a long-lost sense of exhilaration, and creative ideas were bubbling up one after another.
[Haru]—a male player with a plain appearance, a rarity in Arcadia. Contrary to the impression I got from observing his combat, he seemed surprisingly polite and well-mannered when we spoke.
From his reactions and gestures, I got the feeling we might be close in age… but that doesn't really matter.
"He said he's an agility build, so a lightweight weapon for now… no, he also said that with instant manipulation, strength doesn't matter, so if he's planning on a style where he switches constantly, something with a heavy hit might be better…? But with the inventory capacity issue, maybe an expansion accessory first… do we have any 'Wind-Reading Butterfly Crystalfeathers' in stock?"
Honestly, I wasn't that interested in his personality. As I told him myself, as long as I could make something interesting, I had no other desires.
Now, what kind of request would he bring me? Yearning for this newfound source of fun, she allowed her lips to curl into a smile.